Most Important Skills for a Founder and CEO at Mustard and Moxie
Anna, Founder & CEO of Mustard & Moxie, emphasizes the importance of "knowing when you need more input and not being afraid to ask," fostering reciprocal networking relationships, and connecting people within a strong network. The willingness to take risks, "just jump and hope that there's a net underneath," is also crucial to her success, although she acknowledges this approach has both advantages and drawbacks.
Networking, Risk Tolerance, Communication, Leadership, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anna Boudinot
Founder & CEO
Mustard & Moxie
New York University, 2000
UCLA Anderson MBA
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Scholarship Recipient, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Knowing when to ask for help and viewing this as an opportunity to connect with others.
2. Building and maintaining a strong network of trusted contacts, actively connecting people to help each other.
3. Being risk-tolerant and unafraid to take calculated chances, while also being aware of potential negative ramifications
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
The ability to know when you need more input and not be afraid to ask for it is crucial. This means admitting you're clueless sometimes, but not seeing that as a weakness. Instead, view it as an opportunity to connect with experts or knowledgeable people in areas where you lack expertise.
Reach out to them proactively, making connections with those who might be able to help you down the line. It's also important to ensure these relationships are reciprocal. I work hard to be giving back; if I've reached out to someone for help, I find out where they need assistance.
Sometimes, that help is as simple as introducing them to someone I know. Being able to connect people is another important skill. Maintaining a strong network of trusted individuals whose work you admire is key.
Connecting them to each other shows you're looking out for them and have their best interests at heart. You want to help their careers and job growth. I also always tell people I'm very risk-tolerant, which has been both a blessing and a curse.
I don't think I would have started my business without a certain capacity for tolerating risk. I started my business during the first year of the pandemic. If I had overanalyzed whether it would work, I don't think I ever would have started it.
Instead, I just decided to give it a shot. This has also hurt me at times because I sometimes jump into things without considering the long-term ramifications. It has, on occasion, come back to bite me.
Overall, though, being aware of the risks I'm taking and being unafraid to jump in, hoping there's a safety net, has been exciting. It's opened doors to opportunities I wouldn't have experienced otherwise.